A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 111: Queen Elena Thornhart

A hooded figure stepped out of the dark corridors of the Mysthaven hallways. Two knights were walking in front of him, their hands rested on the hilt of their swords. The raised his head little enough for one to spot his lips curl into an evil smile.

"I believe you’re looking for me," he said, forcing the knights to turn around. His presence made them draw their blades weary of his intimidating aura.

His left hand, now resting on the handle of a dagger, shot up in a surrender gesture. The knights exchanged confused glances between themselves before turning to face him.

He rolled his eyes before lowering his hood to reveal a face they least expected.

"The bastard," one of them whispered. They exchanged another glance with the other knight. "Let’s kill him!"

Gabriel raised his hand in a stop gesture. "If you try to kill me, you’ll both be dead even before you make the first strike. But if you take me to Lord Atticus, alive... I didn’t know how you humans do it but you’ll be greatly rewarded."

The knights exchanged another round of thoughtful glances.

"The knights who captured the bastard prince of Eldoria. Imagine the praises," Gabriel continued feeding into their fantasies. "All you have to do is simply cuff me and I’ll comply."

Without wasting a single second, the knights swung into action. They roughly pinned Gabriel against the wall and cuffed his hands.

"That was not part of the agreement," Gabriel winced, his face pressed roughly against the solid wall.

The knights yanked him and led him to the throne hall where Lord Atticus was.

"We caught him around the hallways My Lord," they reported.

Lord Atticus rose from the throne, his eyes trained on Gabriel all the while. The little boy remained sitting by the side of the throne.

"He was alone?" He enquired, his eyes never leaving Gabriel’s.

"Yes," the knights answered in unison.

Lord Atticus gave him a calculative look, trying to assess him like an open book. "I’ve seen people kill, and being around the authorities was not their first option. Why are you here?"

"You wanted me, here I am," Gabriel replied. His face gave nothing away.

"I never knew you were that easy to catch," he stared at the two knights, "two human knights to say the least. You can fool everyone but me."

Gabriel’s lips twitched but he was quick to hide it. The old bear was wise, and what could he expect from a person usurping the throne? If he would be a vampire, he’d be a force to reckon with.

"I wanted an audience with you," Gabriel replied, trying to hide his defeat with a half smile.

"You have my undivided attention," Atticus said, dropping his hands to the sides. "But only if you give me the princess’s body first."

Gabriel feigned ignorance. "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"I’d act surprised if I heard my wife’s body was missing," Atticus pointed, a flaw Gabriel didn’t take into account.

’Damn this hog!’ He cursed.

"Not when you killed her yourself," he replied, trying to act all stoic. But the words hurt him, a heavy feeling weighing on his chest.

"Something you regret?" Atticus enquired, closely observing Gabriel’s reaction.

"Why do you want her body?" Gabriel asked instead.

"Isn’t it obvious?" Atticus turned to look at the boy. "Andrian’s offspring can never sit on the throne unless Elena Thornhart receives a decent burial."

Gabriel took a step forward. "I cannot help but realize you and I have a lot in common. We both want to see ourselves in power. But unlike you, I don’t pull a few tricks up my sleeve, say something like hiring a demon to alter a spell."

Atticus already sunken eyes narrowed. "I have no idea what you’re talking about," he said, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"Mmm," Gabriel smirked his lips. "Before I came here, I had the opportunity to visit the little boy’s mother. Funny how women react when their children are threatened," Gabriel said.

And come to think of it, was it the same reason why his mother cared so much about him? He pushed the thought to the back of his mind.

"That," Lord Atticus pointed at the boy, "Is undoubtedly Andrian’s son."

"Is he?" Gabriel asked, taking another step forward. "Your wife. I heard she was a good woman married to a cruel husband with habits of visiting the pleasure house."

"I couldn’t help but notice your burning ambition to have him on the throne, a thing only a father would desire for their beloved son!"

"How dare you speak about my wife?" Lord Atticus asked, his nose flaring. Acting purely on impulse and anger, he took a sword from one of the knights and charged at Gabriel.

Gabriel sidestepped the old man’s attack and broke the chains restraining him. These were made for humans, not vampires. Before Atticus could compose himself, Gabriel knocked the blade out of his hand and kicked him hard on the thigh to force him into a kneeling position.

Walking past him as if he had no care in the world, he picked the sword and pointed it at his neck. None of the knights present dared interfere.

"I only wanted what was best for my son," Lord Atticus said, now feeling overpowered. He raised his hands in defeat before taking a glance at the boy who was now standing.

"For his sake, please don’t kill me in front of his eyes." He begged.

"Kill?" Gabriel scoffed, withdrawing the sword. "Your fate rests on the shoulders of the rightful ruler of Mysthaven." He added, placing the blade on his shoulders.

Lord Atticus looked at his son frantically. He was too young to decide the fate of a man. How then could he...

The double doors swung open at the same time revealing Elena Thornhart in her full grace as a queen. On her head rested a golden tiara that matched her dress.

"Am I in heaven?" Atticus asked, his expression simply stupefied.

"No, not yet!" Gabriel answered with a smirk.

"All hail Queen Elena Thornhart, First of her name, Ruler of Mysthaven and guardian of the humans!"